[4] In the resulting rearrangement to create monophyletic genera, the gray-headed antbird was moved to a newly erected genus Ampelornis.

Their flight feathers are dark brownish gray with pale brown edges; their wing coverts are black with wide white tips.

[5][6][7] The grey-headed antbird is found from far southwestern Ecuador's El Oro and Loja provinces into northwestern Peru as far as the departments of Lambayeque and Cajamarca.

It hops and makes short flutter-flights between perches and takes prey by gleaning from leaves, stems, and vines.

The grey-headed antbird's song is "a short, rapid, descending series of churred notes: CHEER'R'r'r'r'r'ew" and its call "a harsh, whining rheer-rhurr".

"Significant habitat loss is ongoing, at least in unprotected areas, and will soon remove almost all extant lowland forest unless effective action is taken urgently.

"Further investigation into its ecology would help to clarify its true micro-habitat needs, particularly with respect to the relative importance of bamboo; this could influence decisions on habitat preservation and management.